TRINITY Winchester has welcomed permission to carry out a new scheme to provide three emergency flatlets within its existing day centre in Winchester.

The project will provide safe housing alongside Trinity’s support services to women experiencing homelessness and those needing emergency access to a safe space.

Winchester-based building contractors, Appledown Projects, have drawn up plans and started work on the new units which will include kitchenettes, furnishings and individual wet rooms.

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With support from Winchester City Council and other county-wide stakeholders, the development will be financially sustainable, with running costs met through housing benefits and additional services.

Sue McKenna, Trinity’s chief executive said, “It has long been Trinity’s ambition to provide homes for our clients, with a holistic approach, which will offer long-term benefits with life-changing outcomes.  Since 2021 we have been able to achieve this, however, there is now a greater need for extra rooms, and we have reconfigured our building to find the space to be able to provide them. This will have an immediate impact of reducing the number of rough sleepers in the Winchester District.  It will also improve their health and long-term prospects”.

The development has been made possible following gifts from a local individual and the Footstep Housing Trust charity. Trinity still needs to raise £1.2m over the next three years to be able to complete the Trinity housing pathway, from street to home, which will provide 10 move-on units to help people move into longer-term independence.

Anyone who would like to get involved with Trinity, find out more or donate to the Capital Appeal Fund, is asked to email sue@trinitywinchester.org.uk or visit the charity’s website trinitywinchester.org.uk.